Application of polyaniline-based magnetic-dispersive-solid-phase microextraction combined with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for the evaluation of plastic migrants in food matrices

Magnetic nanoparticles of Fe3O4 coated with polyaniline have been synthesised through chemical co precipitation, and successfully characterised using different techniques such as FT-IR and X-ray diffraction. Such nanocomposite was applied as sorbent for a new magnetic micro-dispersive solid phase extraction procedure for the extraction of seven plastic migrants in jelly samples, followed by determination using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Optimisation of several parameters that could affect extraction efficiency has been performed both by a conventional one-step at-a-time approach and the use of a Box Behnken experimental design. The developed method was successfully validated obtaining recovery values in the range 70-124% with relative standard deviations lower than 20%, limits of quantification in the range 0.0106-0.0171 mu g/L, and R-2 values higher than 0.9915 for all the analytes. The greenness of the procedure was also evaluated using the AGREE calculator. Finally, the developed method was applied for the determination of plastic migrants in a group of 11 commercial jellies acquired in local stores. Results showed the presence of BBP in almost all the samples and DCHP in three of them, as well as DEHA, which was detected in another three commercial samples and quantified at a concentration of 2.17 mu g/L in another one. (c) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.& nbsp;

Automated summary

In this study, magnetic nanoparticles of Fe3O4 coated with polyaniline were synthesized and used for the extraction of plastic migrants in jelly samples. The developed method showed high sensitivity and good sustainability.